Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 166

Yes Brother Ronald

I could agree with that.

I would be dating the first day in the Grave what we call Wednesday day night after 6pm which would be Thursday to them.

Blessings.

Hello- I've wondered the same before- what does the Bible say?

I'm aware of 2 places mentioning the topic:

Deuteronomy 5:8 - 5:10

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" Exodus 20:4 KJV

Israelites made a golden calf and worshipped it. (idolatry. )

The verse says no graven images, or any likeness to heaven (maybe including sky, clouds, angels, sun, light) and anything in the earth (like water, maybe fish, whales, sea life, and probably fire and hell)?

It explains the reason in verse 5: " Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"

This means you are not to make graven images and worship anything other than God- probably not idols of anything- including heaven, sky, and the sea or in the earth (hell?).

If someone can commit idolatry by a representation of something can't that person also do it by actually looking at it? Like the sun, sky, stars, or things below Earth? I think so, but does it mean never go outside because you might see the sky? I think the context shows God doesn't want any other gods before Him- and not bow down or worship anything else.

Watch out for the devil's tricks because he uses twisted verses to try to remove Christianity and its messages from society- for example people so fearful of Christmas being the wrong date on 25th that they want to boycott Christian activities altogether during the holiday despite people coming to Christ by it, or people removing crosses or symbols, or posters, or photos of Christian activities, memes, or positive messages online over this. That is a win for satan. I don't think taking pictures or having Christian reminders or Bibles with crosses is what God is against, but worshipping false gods.

Genesis 1:27

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Blessings

Blessings,

Romans 8:26

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

1 John 5:15

"And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Hey S Spencer,

That is correct, our main focus should be on Jesus's death and resurrection, for it is our only way to the Father and eternal life. Like you quoted, "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The other is just for discussion, whether it is tradition or Scripture.

Not to debate, looking at 3 days and three nights, what Jesus said it would be. If Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, Thursday would be the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, making it a holy convocation, a Sabbath. That would make Friday a regular day, a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, the women could have gone to the grave on Friday, plus Jesus would have had to resurrect on Saturday before sunset.

Thursday is the only day of the week that fits Scripture.

Thanks, brother, have a great weekend.

God bless,

RLW

I may be wrong, but I feel if we truly believe, even the shortest prayer in faith is heard and answered by God. I have hoped for things in my heart without speaking the words and my Father in heaven has provided my needs. So, prayer is needful and, yes, we must give valuable time and reverence to our Savior and LORD. We must also be sincere and obedient, and God will answer before we call. Thank God, He knows who we are and understands our poverty in so many areas, even prayer. He says the Spirit makes intercession for us because we don't know what to pray for as we should. I count on that benefit of knowing Jesus Christ. Talking to Him is key, but I must talk to Him according to my ability not anyone's instruction. Who can teach you to pray except Jesus, the Bishop of your soul?

Why do Bible Institutions make images of God when He clearly instructs us not to do that? Doesn't He call that idolatry? The Word of God clearly states God is a spirit, so isn't making an image a lie?

Some thoughts on Easter Sunday

Scripture shows us that Jesus spent 3 days preaching to those in the underworld; and taking captive those held captive ( Eph. 4:8; 1 Peter 3:19; and Matthew 27:52-53 for further study on this and those who came out of their graves after the Resurrection.

The thief on the cross would be with Him that day in Paradise ( Luke 23:43) which made him unique in several ways; he would be the last or one of the last going there at death; as for now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:8).

He would have been one who would spend the shortest time in Abraham's bosom or the "pleasant" side of Sheol and his soul at least would have been in heaven after He rose from the dead.

Therefore; there was a lot going on even though Christ's body "slept" in the tomb to use Biblical terminology from the KJV. When we consider all the unregenerate that Christ preached about His victory (it was too late obviously for their salvation) along with the multitudes of souls released from under the earth to either go to heaven or be temporarily appearing with new bodies on earth before that it is no small feat. This isn't even including all those fallen beings or offspring of giants mentioned in Genesis 6 that no doubt got wind of what was happening. We are reminded of the transfiguration just a short time before all of this where no doubt Moses was looking forward to the victory Christ was to attain for him as well as Elijah.

The Resurrection is something that; as I stated the other day the Shroud of Turin seems to indicate; but I don't want to focus on that; if only for the simple logic of Luke 16:31. We have the eyewitnesses of 500 or more people that saw Christ after His Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:6; Paul being the last one to see Him in his journey to Damascus; although we could include John seeing Him again in the visions of Revelation. There is a place for apologetics; but only the Spirit can transform a man (Rom12:2

Today's scripture verse is John 15:18 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

Yesterday I met someone extraordinary who is working in one area of crime in our area and is a Christian. I won't even get into the specifics for reasons of confidentiality; as the enemy no doubt would want to dismantle what has been done for the Kingdom of God. Only occasionally have I met someone who I would consider "sold out" for the Lord as to attempts to evangelize and fight spiritual warfare in the process and rejoices in being in the worst neighborhoods all hours of the day and night. The efforts of God's army must utilize the same tactics as the enemy; branching out to those of every tongue; nation and language as Revelation 7:9 indicates along with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20.

Evil follows the same sort of tactic; it has many tentacles and branches out in complex hierarchical structures. One of the most dangerous things we can do is try to stay away from everything and follow our everyday routine; pretending nothing is wrong.

There are certain situations; nonetheless that in His perfect wisdom will be averted and should be avoided; and whenever we plan to reach out and share of His amazing grace it behooves us not to go unprepared with prayers covering our backs and have prayer and scripture as meditation in our minds.

No one is perfect of course; but we need to pay attention to Godly men and women who are clearly outstanding in their faith as proved by their actions.

As a further note of warning based on what I learned the other day; there is much in churches that is often swept under the rug so to speak. And I am not referring to the Catholic church only. There has in general been too little accountability overall; and this also relates to those who are not given wise counsel in regard to the sacredness of the marriage covenant who ditch their first wives to marry another even in leadership. Let's keep praying.

Thanks Brother.

I have the time line slightly different when I factor in the 3 days ( and 3 nights)

What is most important is that Christ died for our sins and that he rose again from the grave!

Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 15:14-22. "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

We can be sure of that being true and not mans tradition.

I don't participate in the Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies and all that that comes with traditional celebration.

But I celebgate this marvelous day!

God bless.

Hi S Spencer,

Thanks, brother. We recognize the sacrifice, humiliation, and pain Jesus endured to atone for our sins; He fully paid the penalty required to overcome death, and in Him is our hope. In my study of Scripture, it would have been Thursday, the 14th of Nisan, Passover Day, a prepreation day when Jesus was crucified; the next day, Friday, was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a Holy convocation, an annual Sabbath. Whether that matters more than the tradition of man. The same could be asked about the day we honor when Jesus was resurrected, which we call Easter.

God bless,

RLW

Brother Ronald.

Thanks for the time line, I read through it but I would have to study more on it with a open book.

With the time line you provided what day would you say Jesus was crucified?

Brother Spencer,

Amen! The baptism of John was a baptism of repentance, for the Jews it meant turning away from Judaism and receiving Christ as their Messiah. We see in Hebrews Chapter 9 the superiority of the heavenly sanctuary. The old sanctuary and its sacrifice did not purge or purify anyone. Christ, by means of His death became a mediator for the new covenant.

As you mentioned, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." The word testament means a contract. It's like a will. If I make out a will, it does not come into effect until I die. There must be death. And so, with God's covenant with us, nothing is applied until there's a death. And that was the death of Christ!

Blessings to you also!

Great stuff Brother Jesse.

I believe this is pivotal section for understanding the "baptism of John" Also Christ being baptized along with so many other things in scripture.

Jesus (the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.)

John 1:29

Mathew 26:28.

I believe the Lord was Identifying with the priesthood of the OT and all the sacrifices and rituals that pointed towards Christ.

He ended the Old Covenant and eventually brought in the New Covenant

(For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.)

Also as you mentioned it should clear up the way this section of scripture is misinterpreted.

God bless you.

(Hebrews Part 25b):

Hebrews 11:1 Continued:

But I can't get away from it. It's a conviction. I can stand before you right now and make the announcement that I am denouncing the Lord and His word, and I'm finished. But I will never be able to get away from Him (Christ), never! I have never been able to get away from it, and I will not now! My beliefs are based on the conviction of God's Spirit that lives in me. That's faith. It's not my faith. My human faith waivers.

But when I look down deep, there's something there that is a stabilizing force that is the basis of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen, spiritual things, spiritual truth.

I have shared in the past that the word faith means persuasion. the word faith in Greek is PISTIS. It is from the word PEITHO which means to persuade. If you're into the study of the Greek culture or Greek mythology, you know that PEITHOS was the goddess of persuasion. But PEITHO is the root word for the word faith. The verb form of PISTIS is the word that means to believe.

People hear the word faith, and they go in all different direction as to what faith is. But faith is PISTIS. And it means persuasion. Also, there are two kinds of faith because there are two sources of faith. One is human, and one is from God as a source. And remember that every time we say faith, we are making reference to persuasion.

(Hebrews Part 25a):

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

That is not a definition. The only definition is found in the meaning of the word itself. In the Greek text, this is a description of what faith does. The description of faith is two things: The substance, or basis of things hoped for, and the evidence, more literally conviction, of things not seen.

Now if I take this description of what faith does, and its definition of persuasion that faith is the basis of things hoped for, why do I have hope for the coming of Christ? Why do I have a living hope that one day when I die, I'm going to go to heaven? Either it's something that I am persuading myself to believe, which means there's a possibility that someday someone will persuade me not to believe, or, my hope is based upon, which the next phrase says, the conviction of things not seen. It's a conviction. That's a persuasion!

There are times when we as human beings doubt what the bible says. Have you ever had those moments when you look over at the bible and you think "It's just a book?" I mean you open it up and it has ink words in it. It didn't fall down from heaven, somebody printed it. How do I know that it's not just our western culture religious book? Other religions have their book, so what's the big deal?

(Hebrews Part 24b):

Hebrews 10:36 Continued:

We have to understand that Satan does what he does in our lives to bring us to a point of discouragement so that we voluntarily, in our own decision making, say I quit, I've had it, I been going through this for so long. The need is for endurance. And the book of James teaches us how God develops in us a faith to endure the long term.

So, whatever you and I might be going through today, and in fact, you might think that your life is going along pretty well, but just know that Satan is there just like an ice pick on that big cube of ice just chipping away, little by little. He wears us down.

So, it's not so much being satisfied today that we have trusted the Lord and have done pretty well, but realize that Satan has an entire method or system of attacks. That's what Paul says in Ephesians Chapter 6 about the wiles of the devil, which is the word METHODEA, and is where we get our word methods from.

It could be that the first five or ten trials that come to your life by Satan are just setting you up. It doesn't have anything to do with the real knockout punch that Satan wants to give. He'll wear us down just like a boxer with his jab, punching, punching, punching, so he can land the knockout punch.

So, remember this, that Satan's desire is to wear us down so that we quit, and we don't want to follow the Lord and trust the Lord anymore, because it's just "too hard." You have need of endurance, he says, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

(Hebrews Part 24a):

Hebrews 10:36 - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For ye have need of patience. Wow! This is one I'd like to cut out and paste on my refrigerator! He's saying you have need of patience. The word patience in the Greek text (HUPOMONE) means to endure, to remain under. Every one of us has what is called a short term and a long term in relation to situations in life.

We see it in the book of Job. Job did great in the short term, even in the midst of some terrible suffering. He lost his family members. He lost some of his possessions. He even lost his health. But he continued to praise the Lord. He would not speak against God.

But then as his health problems continued to linger on, and three of his so-called friends showed up, when they arrived, Job was looking so terrible in his health that they just sat there for an entire week just staring at him and not saying anything. But as time went on, and as the three friends began to share their philosophies and try to figure out what Job did wrong to make him suffer so, even Job began to waiver.

The first thing a trial and tribulation does for us is teach us how to endure the short term. Our greatest need is to endure the long term. The word persecution in Greek (DIOKO) means to chase, to pursue. That's what Satan does to God's people. He does not capture them. He chases them.

And the difference is that Satan chases, and when we're going along strong, he can't do anything about it. He can't catch up with us. But once we begin to weaken, get discouraged, he wants us to slow down, not so that he can capture us because he can't.

4/18/25__

This Passion week, my children taught me a new word.

Tetelestai___

One of Jesus' SEVEN LAST WORDS.

Meaning it is finished.

Happy Good Friday to you all.

Isaiah 53:11

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

This verse sums up the truth that for all He suffered Jesus was to be satisfied with the result; that is many sons coming to glory ( Heb. 2:10). The riches of His glory is seen in Ephesians 3:16 which states: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man...

A life well lived can be seen according to Paul's example in Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Many will focus on Paul's hardships and rightly so; but if we consider when he is full and abounds let us compare that to a moment to the unbelieving world. A lot of rich people like to have a positive thinking attitude; which is self aggrandizing if focused on self. What all men have in common is that they can't take it with them when they die. Job 1:21 states:

... Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." We are instructed in Ecclesiastes to do all our hands while we yet have time: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

What we do bring in the next life is the harvest we have produced in terms of souls reached for Him; and good works we have performed that had been prepared for us since before the foundation of the world ( Eph. 2:10; Eph. 1:4).

I conclude therefore that money; something discussed a lot in the Gospels is neutral; it is our affections that must be driven by our love for the Lord not money. We can have much and truly be rich; or spiritually impoverished.

The week of Jesus's crucifixion.

Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.

Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.

John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.

Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.

Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18- Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.

Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.

See part 2

The week of Jesus's crucifixion.

Part 2

Day four, 13th of Nisan, they were in Bethany in Simon the leper's house, and a woman came in and poured precious ointment on Jesus's head, Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9. Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus, Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11. Toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover, Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-15, and Luke 22:7-13.

In Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7, it says that on the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lambs. The Passover lambs are killed on the 14th, Passover day, not on the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th. The Last Supper was at the beginning of Passover day, before the lambs were killed; we must remember that days start at sundown. We also see in John 18:28 that after the Last Supper, when they took Jesus to Pilate, they would not go into the judgment hall because they would be defiled, as they had not eaten the Passover.

When the sun went down on the fourth day, which we call Wednesday, is the beginning of Passover day, the 14th of Nisan, the day Jesus was crucified and the Passover lambs are killed.

The lambs are killed on the 14th in the evening, when the sun begins to go down, any time after noon until it sets. The lambs are eaten the night of the 15th, the first day of the seven-day feast, which is a holy convocation/Sabbath, Exodus 12:6-16, the same night they went out of Egypt, not on Passover day.

The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion occurred on Passover day, the fifth day since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, marking it as the 5th day of the week we call Thursday. Friday was the 15th, the first day of Unleavened Bread. John called it a high day, John 19:31. The Greek word is megas, meaning great, a feast holy convocation, which resulted in two Sabbaths in a row, Friday and Saturday.

God bless,

RLW

i want to ask for prayer that the Lord will help me to be wise this Holy Weekend. i know it's not right to call a bunch of people to my battles, like Gideon did in Judges 7.

verse 2 says:

"The Lord God said to Gideon:

You have too many people, so I can't let you defeat the Midianites.

If I did, you might think you had won without my help."

but I'm managing to look at my life path and listen to my preacher Sarah's advice. I've been following her advice to the letter.

i no longer want to defraud God's Word.

Revelation 19:13 is what He makes me see as a Good Shepherd are my iniquities

(Hebrews Part 23b):

Hebrews 10:26 Continued

So, they are being told that if you go back into old Judaism, you're not going to find any sacrifice there that's going to take care of your sin problem if you leave Christ. You see, they had a choice to make. They could either surrender to Christ, knowing that they would be persecuted and ostracized by their own family and fellow Jews, or, they could go back and remain in Judaism. So, they received the knowledge of the truth, and now they are being told that they either receive Jesus as their Messiah (Savior), or they can go back into their old sacrificing that can never take away their sin.

So, this verse does not teach that a saved person can lose their salvation as some claim!

(Hebrews Part 23a):

Hebrews 10:26 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

This is another section of scripture that I believe is very important. This is one of the verses in the Bible that some use to show that salvation can be lost.

It says, "For if we sin willfully, that is, we go back to serving the principle of sin, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth," and again, we saw back in Chapter 6 those who were enlightened, that are no longer coming for fellowship. But just because they were enlightened doesn't mean they're saved. The Lord can enlighten someone as to the knowledge of the truth, they know the truth, they have seen the truth, they understand the truth but have never surrendered their life to Christ.

It goes on to say, "Now if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins."

The writer is speaking to Hebrew people here. These people were following along within a mixed group of Hebrews, and they were all hearing the same truth. So, this crowd consisted of Hebrew believers, Hebrew non-believers, and Hebrew people who were following along and receiving the knowledge of truth, probably agreeing with what they were hearing, but would not denounce Judaism and surrender their life to Christ because they knew what this would mean if they did. They would be rejected by their own family, they would no longer be allowed in their temple, they wouldn't be able to work, and they would be severely persecuted if they surrendered to Christ.

(Hebrews Part 22):

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Some of these Hebrews who have been enlightened to the truth but have never been saved are thinking of going back into old Judaism. If you remember back in Chapters 4 and 5, what is the confession of our faith? There are two things. Number one, Jesus Christ is our apostle. He is the one who has come from God and represents God to us. The second thing in our confession as believers is that Jesus Christ is our high priest.

Now you can imagine a Hebrew or Jewish person making that confession in and amongst the other Hebrew and Jewish people who have rejected Christ as Messiah. That's going to create problems! And so that's why he says let's hold firm, the profession or confession of our faith; (for he is faithful that promised;) That's the Lord!

Thirdly, the third hortatory, or encouragement, is in Verse 24.

Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

And let us consider one another. KATANOEO is the Greek word, and it has to do with having a perception upon others. Perceive what others are going through.

And we are to consider one another for two things: Number one, for provoking. Let us consider one another for provoking. In fact, the word provoke in Greek means to irritate, and there are a lot of Christians who are home on that one!

To irritate unto love and to good works: The word good is the word for right, correct works, doing things right in the eyes of the Lord. So, unto love and to good works.

(Hebrews Part 21):

Hebrews 10:19 - Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

That's the holy of holies in heaven.

Now in Verses 19 through 25, it speaks about the sufficiency of the provision of Christ. From the Greek text, there are what are called three Hortatory Subjunctives. In the Greek, a subjunctive presents a possibility or probability or purpose. A Hortatory Subjunctive is an encouragement that's in the Subjunctive Mood, and it's translated by the English "Let us."

It almost sounds like it's a command but it isn't. It's an encouragement. And there are three of them, and I'll point them out as I go through Verses 19 through 25.

Hebrews 10:22 - Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Here is our first encouragement: Let us draw near. And notice what he says, with a true heart, genuine, sincere, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and that's an allusion to the sprinkling of the blood over the mercy seat. Our consciences have been sprinkled from an evil conscience. And our bodies washed with pure water.

Those last two are ceremonies that the priests had to go through in order to enter into the presence of God. So, he's saying, using the shadows, spiritually speaking, with boldness, come into the holy of holies in heaven into the presence of Christ because of our high priest, because of the place where He is, because of the provision made for us, our evil consciences have been sprinkled with blood, our bodies washed with pure water, in symbolic form of what He's done for us in the Spirit.

He's saying let us draw near. We should draw near, not stay away for fear of the God of the Old Covenant who is a consuming fire. So, the first encouragement is draw near. Verse 23 is the second encouragement.

(Hebrews Part 20):

Hebrews 9:10 - Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Reformation in Greek means restoring that which is crooked, or to make straight that which is crooked, which will be completed at the second coming of Christ.

Hebrews 10:14 - For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Sanctified is a verb form of the word holy. HAGIOS is the Greek word for holy. It's also the word for saint. It's not the word for holy in the sense of purity, but holy in the sense of position. It means to be set apart. For instance, the vessels in the temple were said to be holy and set apart for God's use. But that didn't mean that they weren't scratched or dented or didn't have flaws. It meant their position and use was set apart for God's use.

When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, it's the word holy. Holy is an adjective. He's the Holy Spirit of God. He's the Holy Spirit of Christ. Holy is an adjective that describes what kind of Spirit He is. He's set apart. He only belongs to God, He only represents God, and He only does the things of God. He doesn't do the common things outside of God's will because He's the Spirit of God.

When the Holy Spirit comes into my spirit, or my soul, I am then called a saint. It's the same word (HAGIOS). Once His Spirit comes into my life, I am set apart for Him. I'm not a saint because of my performance. Whether a Christian understands it or not, that's where our biggest struggle is. God already has us set apart for His purposes, but we keep trying to go the other way. We keep trying to do our purposes. Our struggle is more with the Lord than it is with Satan.

The verb form (HAGIADZO) that represents the coming of the Holy Spirit into my life, that's called my sanctification. I have been set apart. A saved person is sanctified, and everybody that is sanctified has been perfected, completed!

(Hebrews Part 19):

Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

This word slothful is a Greek word (NOTHROI) that means lazy.

Hebrews 7:3 - Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Melchisedec was without father, and notice how it's translated. It doesn't say he did not have a father. The Greek text indicates that there is no record of a father. No record of a mother, and he is without descent. There's no record. Obviously, he came from somewhere. He was a man. He was real. There were no records at all about this guy.

Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;

That is, we have no idea where he came from, how old he was, when he died, if he died, whatever!

But made like unto the Son of God;

There is a parallel between Melchisedec and Christ. But this text says that he was made like to the Son of God. It doesn't say he was the Son of God. That's important!

Abides a priest continually. The parallel here is that we know that Jesus had a birth. We know who His mother is and who His Father is. But that's not the parallel. The parallel is that Jesus, let's put it this way, the Christ never had a beginning, and doesn't have an end. And that's why the Lord's priesthood is according to Melchisedec, because Melchisedec is parallel to the eternal existence of Christ.

Hebrews 8:2 - For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

There are never any candles mentioned in the scripture, even though it's in the translation. It's translated lamp. And there was a lamp and a table in what is called the holy place.

Matthew 27-The Crucifixion

I believe it was Josh McDowell who originally did a study on the death of Christ; along with others who have done medical analysis as to what the crucifixion would have entailed. We have the Shroud of Turin which certainly seems to be the linen that bears Christ's image; explained as to the apparent later date as being material taken as a sample on the outer edges of the garment that were repaired after fire damage in the 1300's.

At present I don't feel it would be edifying or that I am even worthy of doing an analysis of this chapter. The story unfolds in all its graphic detail; fulfilling numerous prophecies; especially poignant to the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. It is said that the spiritual suffering of Christ being separated for that moment from the Father was worse than the physical agony but can't be ignored; certainly. Satan is no half hearted foe as to the level of destruction he brings in this hour of darkness (see Luke 22:53). God allowed him to bring forth the circumstances leading to His death; Jesus still gave up the ghost when the work was done in saying "it is finished" ( John 19:30). Once again when the "restrainer" is removed from the earth ( 2 Thess. 2:6-8) the powers of evil will have full control for a short time ( Daniel 8:24).

Matthew 28-The Resurrection

Jesus of course came back to life early Sunday morning which we celebrate this week. Hallelujia and Maranatha (Lord come soon). It is hard to fathom how I could live until 18 years old and not know the Lord as I have for the last 42 years. The Gospels are clear that even with one raising from the dead wicked people won't believe (as illustrated in the Parable of the rich man in hell). The nation of Israel still largely is blind until the time the Lord has set for Jacob's trouble. Jeremiah 30:7 says: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.